New Paltz man charged in June 2012 death of girl, 2

Police work outside the New Paltz home of Asia Perez-Medina the day her body was discovered last June. (Freeman file photo)

KINGSTON, N.Y. -- Nine months after 2-year-old Asia Perez-Medina was found bludgeoned to death at a home in New Paltz, an ex-con who lived there has been charged with killing her, the Ulster County District Attorney's Office said on Tuesday.

Joseph Rodriguez, 44, who is married to the girl's aunt and has served time for manslaughter, was indicted by a county grand jury for second-degree murder in connection with the girl's June 20, 2012, death, DA Holley Carnright said.

Carnright, in a written statement, said the indictment was the result of "the grizzly discovery of the child's body at the rear of the home rented by Rodriguez, his wife and two school-aged children on (state) Route 32 in New Paltz."

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Police on June 20 initially responded to a call for a missing child at 332 Route 32 North but arrived to find a member of the family with young Asia, and a rescue squad was called.

After Asia died, police quickly ruled the case a homicide, saying the toddler had suffered blunt force trauma. The child was identified by authorities as a citizen of the Dominican Republic who was staying with relatives locally at the time of her death.

Carnright said Tuesday that the girl lived with the family for about three months. He would not comment on a possible motive for the homicide or say what was used to bludgeon the girl.

Asked about why it took authorities nine months to charge Rodriguez, Carnright said significant time was needed to follow leads, gather evidence, send it to a lab for processing and wait for results before the case could be presented to a grand jury.

New Paltz police on Tuesday said Rodriguez was taken into custody about 5:25 p.m. Sunday in the city of Newburgh.

"This investigation took ... hard work (by) many law-enforcement agencies," New Paltz Police Chief Joseph Snyder said in a prepared statement. "I am sure I speak for everyone involved in this case when I say a day has not passed where I have not thought and prayed for Asia and her family. I hope the arrest will begin the healing process for Asia's family."

Carnright said Rodriguez was arraigned Tuesday before Ulster County Court Judge Donald A. Williams and that a plea of not guilty was entered on the defendant's behalf. Rodriguez then was sent to Ulster County Jail without bail.

The case has been adjourned until April 30, Carnright said.

Carnright said Rodriguez has a previous manslaughter conviction, but he did not elaborate, saying he was prohibited from discussing the suspect's criminal history at this time.

"There are some things I would like to talk to you about," Carnright said. "I've been living with this case for a year."

New Paltz police said Rodriguez served several years in prison for the manslaughter conviction.